"Who do you think you are?" Whenever someone becomes irate with the pretentiousness of another, you can hear that question with a bit of heat. "Who do you think you are??"
This question could also be heard as low key, posed in school by a teacher to a group discussing personal growth. It comes to mind when we think about what we want in life, i.e. our hopes and desires. We fill in the blanks all the time.
How would you describe yourself now - your hopes, your desires, your plans? Or are you pretty well settled in? And for that matter, "Who wants to know?"
We learn about a particular religious body by their creeds, their programs, their fellowship. Religious bodies can become pretty well settled in, adhering to a certain set of doctrines, practices, meeting times. Pope Francis has challenged that thinking, as he breaks tradition to minister to others, showing kindness and mercy. Who we are or what we want to be can stand a bit of challenge, don't you think?
Recently I read a book by Henri Nouwen, one of the great spiritual writers of our day, entitled "Life of the Beloved." A group of young men couldn't find peace in any religious group. They didn't find any far-reaching meaning for themselves, and they wanted Nouwen to write a book for them, explaining the spiritual life. He chose to say simply that God had shown His great love for us through all creation and in His Son, so that we all are "the beloved."
Nouwen began not with doctrine, saying that the young men were sinners, first and foremost, or just students of religion, but "the beloved." That is heartwarming! As a parent seeks to provide for his or her child through love, so God provides for us as His children. (cf. I Corinthians 15:58; Romans 1:7; I Peter 2:11)
That is where our search for meaningful identity should begin and end. We are those loved of God, and because that is so important for our peace and for the unity of humankind, we are called to love.
Dr. Lamb is parish associate, First Presbyterian Church, Charleston.